Feed device for powdered material



` July 4, 1944. w s-'l-RAUSS 2,352,809

FEED DEVICE FOR POWDERED MATERIAL Fildmv.' 5o, 1942 2 sheets-sheet 1 gre/WOL b. f 3 WILLIAM STRAUS@ l y July 4, 1944. w. s'rRAuss l 2,352,809

FEED DEVICE FOR' POWDERED MATERIAL Filed Ngv. so. 1942 2 sheets-sheet 2 Y .1 lI\I, 1. y l L l WILLIAM STRRUSS Patented July4, 1944 I I l 'UNITED s'rA'rcs v PATcNr omer FEED DEVICE FOR POWDERED MATERIAL William Strauss, Philadelphia, Pa., assignor to F. J. Stokes Machine Company, a corporation of Pennsylvania Application November 30, 1942, Serial No. 467,361

y 'iclaima (ci. 222-156) This invention relates to a feed device for 2. Casing I is provided with an integral bracket powdered or granular material. It is especially useful for feeding or charging powdered or granular molding material into the cavities of a moldbore therein for receiving, the measuring cylinder Ia by which the feed device is mounted upon any suitable support, for example upon the frame of a molding press. At the top of casing I is a ing press, but it will be found useful in many boss Ib` having a flat horizontal surface, and. applications where it is desired to feed, measure this boss is provided with an inlet port or pasor dispense a predetermined quantity of powsage which communicates with the measuring dered or granular material. cylinder. A partition Ib' divides the inlet pas- The invention is concerned with a feed device sage into two sections as shown in Figure 2. of the type which involves a rotary cylindrical A plate 3 is mounted on boss Ib and .is aperelement embodied in the outlet passage of a hoptured in the same manner as boss Ib to provide per containing the granular material, 4and the an inlet passage of two sections- A rin-s 0r rotary cylindrical element is provided with one collar 4 which supports a supply hopper 5 is or more measuring cavities of adjustable volume. mounted on plate 3 and is secured to the plate An object of the invention is .to devise a feed by suitable bolts or other fastening'devices passdevice of the type described which can be easily ing through a flange formed on the lower end of adjusted and cleaned. collar 4. The lower face of collar I is recessed A further object is to devise an operating mechto provide a narrow slot between plate 3 and colanism for the 'feed device which when'energized lar I, and a pair of cut-off gates 6a and 6b are operates the feeding cylinder from its loading 20 slidably mounted in this slot abovethe two secposition to its unloading position; and including tions of the inlet passage. These gates may be biasing means for returning the cylinder' to its formed of sheet metal and provided with a c urved loading position after the operating mechanism handle on the front edge thereof as shownl at is deenergized. 6a in Figure 1 for sliding the gate forward or Still another object is to devise a clutch elebackward."l A flange such as 6.a" in .Figure l ment interposed. between the operating mechamay be provided at the rear end of the gate to nism and the feeding cylinder to permit uncouprevent withdrawal of the gate. It will be unpling of the cylinder from the operating mechaderstood that each gate is apertured so that in nism when it is desired to clean or adjust the one position of the gate the inlet passage will measuring cavities. be open and in the other position the passage Still another object is to devise-a feed device will be closed. having a number of measuring cavities andvin- On the lower side of casing I is an extension I c cluding a number of cut-ofi' gates interposed which has three outlet passa-ges A, B and C between the cylinder and the lower end of the formed therein. These outlet passages are genhopper whereby the measuring cavities may be 35 erally of funnel shape vas shown in Figure 2. The selectively cut off from the supply hopper. passages are separated by partitions I c' and Ic" A preferred embodiment of my invention is which fit closely against measuring cylinder 2. illustrated in the accompanying drawings in Measuring cylinder 2 is provided with stub which shafts 2a and 2b at the ends thereof, shaft 2a Figure 1 is an end elevational view of the fee y 40 being journaled in abearing carried by an end device shown partly in section; i plate Id removably vsecured to the casing I and Figure 2 is a sectional view of `Figure 1 taken shaft 2b being journaled in drive shaft l of the along the line 2 2; driving mechanism. Shaft 'I has a shoulder la Figure 3 is a front elevational view of the cyl- 45 which cooperates with a shoulder 2b surroundinder operating mechanism and showing the ing shaft 2b to form a clutch construction whererighthand end of the cylinder with the casing by measuring cylinder 2 is driven from shafty l. removed; Any other suitable clutch construction may be Figure is a sectional viewv of Figure 3 taken employed provided it permits driving 'engagealong the line 4 4; and v ment of the cylinder 2 with shaft I only in one Figure 5 is a plan' view of the cylinder operat- 5 predetermined relative position of the two eleing mechanism. ments. A. coiled spring 2c surrounding stub shaft Referring to the drawings, the feed device con- 2a and interposed between the left end of cylinder sists of a housing or casingl preferably formed 2 and 'cover plate' la (Figure 2) serves to vurge of cast metal and having a horizontal cylindrical cylinder 2 into driving engagement with shaft l.

A suitable knob 2d is secured to the outer end bottom of the cavities and extending along the axes of the cavities. By adjusting the position of the circular plates a, b and c by means of a suitable wrench, the volume of the cavities may be set at any desired amount within the limits of the device.

Drive shaft 1 is supported and journaled in a vsleeve 8 mounted upon the casing I by means of a flanged cylindrical extension 8a extending into the cylindrical bore of the casing. -A suitable oil sealing ring 8b is positioned in an annular counterbore formed in extension 8a and surrounds the inner end of shaft 1 to prevent the passing of oil or grease from the driving mechanisni intoithe feed device. The inner end of shaft 1 is `'journaled in the bore of sleeve 8, and the outer end is formed with a section 1b of reduced diameter which is journaled in a bearing formed at the end of sleeve 8.` A suitable collar 1c mounted on the end of shaft section 1b prevents axial displacement of the shaft 1. Gear teeth 'Id are formed on an intermediate section of shaft 1, and this portion of the shaft acts as a pinion.

Various arrangements may be devised for drivloading position shown in Figures 1 and 2 where the measuring cavities are in a position to receive material from the hopper. Upon opening of valve 9e, either by hand or mechanicallyl com pressed fluid is admitted to the larger bore, and the greater pressure acting on the piston 9a forces the rack I0 downwardly, thus rotating measuring cylinder 2 in an anti-clockwise direction as shown in Figure 1 to the position shown in Figures 3 and 4. In this position, the measuring cavities 2A, 2B and 2C discharge their contents into the individual discharge passages A, B and C from which the charges may be directed into the mold cavities of a. molding press or may be directed into any other devices such as empty containers in a packaging machine. As soon as valve 9e is` closed, pressure is cut off from piston 9a and the pressure exerted on -plston 9b moves rack I0 upwardly to return the measuring cylinder to its normal or loading position. Any other suitable biasing means may be provided for returning the -rack I0 to its upper position, but I prefer the arrangement shown, since it provides a uniform driving force on rack I 0 vthroughout its movement whereas a spring element would provide a decreasing force.

'I'he inner surface of the cylindrical bore within casing I is recessed at the upper ends of discharge passages A, B and C as shown by the dotted line le in Figure 1, but the partitions Ic' and Ic are not recessed but have close fitting contact with cylinder 2. The recesslng of the wall of the cylindrical bore in casing I ing shaft 1, but the arrangement which I prefer is shown in detail in the drawings and consists of a reciprocating-rack engaging the pinion section 1d of shaft 1 and is driven in opposite dlrections by means of two pistons which may be propelled either by compressed fluid such as air, or by a liquid under pressure. More specifically, the driving mechanism includes a double-ended cylinder 9 having a larger bore at the upper end than at the lower end and preferably being formed integral with sleeve 8 which is detachably secured to the casing I. A piston 9a with suitable packing rings is mounted to reciprocate within the upper end of cylinder 9, and a smaller piston 9b is mounted to reciprocate in the lower end of cylinder 9. These two pistons are secured together by means of a rack formed of bar I0 provided with gear teeth 10a positioned to engage and drive pinion 1d when the pistons are reciprocated. The lower end of cylinder 9 has a connection 9c for a pipe line represented by the dotted line 9c' leading to a source of compressed uid represented at CF or to s source o f liquid under pressure. The upper end of the cylinder 9 is also provided with a connection 9d for a pipe line represented by the dotted line 9d' leading to the same source through a normally closed 3-way control valve Se which normally cuts on supply CF and exhausts the upper cylinder through exhaust 9e'. A suitable vent. opening 9j is provided in cylinder 9 at the inner end of the larger bore to permit breathing of the space to the rearl of piston 9a during reciprocation of this piston.

Operation of the feed device is as follows: It will be understood that fluid pressure is; normally cut of! from the larger bore of cylinder 9 and is always applied to the smaller bore of the cylinder, whereby rack I0 is driven upwardly and extends up to the point le', as shown in Figure 1, thus leaving an uninterrupted strip oi' the bore wall in close contact with the cylinder 2 between the edge of the inlet passage formed in f boss I b and the edge of recess Ie. The purpose of providing the recess is to reduce the friction between cylinder 2 and the wall `of the cylindrical bore in casing Il As shown in Figure 1, the front side of casing I is provided with a cored boss If which has an opening providing access to cylinder 2. A suitable cover plate II is removably mounted over the opening in boss I f to prevent dust from entering or leaving the feed device. The opening in boss AIJ vis suflciently large to permit removal of circular plates a, b, and c forming adjustable bottoms in measuring cavities 2A, 2B and 2C. When it is desired to make adjustment of the volume of the measuring cavities, plate I I is removed and the measuring cylinder is uncoupled from driving shaft 1 by pulling the cylinder to. the left as shown in Figure 2 by means of the knob 2d, and the cylinder is then rotated in a clockwise direction in Figure 1 until the measuring cavities face outwardly through the opening in boss If. In this position of cylinder 2 a suitable wrench may be introduced through the opening of boss If and the circular plates a, b, c may berotated and adjusted to the desired position. 'I'his arrangement also facilitates a quick inspection and cleaning of the measur- By providing a clutch element of the type described between shaft 'l and measuring cylinder f 2, that is, a clutch which Will efi'ect a drivingcoliy operator should fail to recouple the c xinder, `it

will become automatically recoupledon operation of the driving mechanism.

What I claim is:

1. A feed device, comprising, in combination, a fixed horizontally disposed cylindrical casing having an inlet opening on the top sidethereof and an outlet opening on the bottom side thereof, a rotary .measuring cylinder mounted for rotation in said casing and having a measuring cavity therein, operating means movable through a predetermined range for rotating said measuring cylinder from a loading position to an unloading position and tothereby invert said measuring cavity, said casing including an inspection opening located at a point outside of the range of movement of said measuring cavity in moving between loading and unloading positions, and means for uncoupling said measuring cylinder the next' from said operating means to permit rotation thereof to a position where the opening of said measuring cavity comes inta registry with saidinspection opening. s

2. A feed device according. to claim llwherein said measuring cavity includes means adjustable from within said cavity for varying the volume of said cavity, said means being adjustable from without said casing and through said inspection opening when said measuring cavity is in registry with said inspection opening.

'3. A feed device according to claim 1 wherein said means for uncoupling the measuring cylinder from said operating means includes a driving clutch having one element thereof carried by said measuring cylinder, and said measuring cylinder being mounted for axial movement to disengage said clutch element.

4. A feed device comprising, in combination, a fixed horizontally disposed cylindrical casing having an inlet opening on the top side thereof and an outlet opening on the bottom side thereof, a rotary measuring cylinder mounted forroltation in said casing and having 'a'measuring ,v cavity therein, rotary driving means mounted in Y axial alignment with said measuring cylinder, 1;' .means tor rotating said driving means through a predetermined angular displacement, a clutch for coupling said driving means with said rotary "vcylinder, said cylinder being movable axially in `fsaici"` casing to uncouple said clutch. biasing means' for urging said cylinder in a direction to vnormally maintain engagement oi' said clutch, and means extending to the outside of'said cas- 4 ing by which said measuring cylinder may be axially moved against said biasing means to uncouple said cylinder from said driving means and to permit rotation of said cylinder outside of the limits of rotation of said driving means.

f cylinder and being supported between and reciprocated by two pistons of diierent diameters operating in opposite ends oi' said cylinder.

7. A feed device comprising a. horizontal cylindrical casing, .a rotary measuring cylinder mounted for rotation in said casing and having a plurality of measuring cavitiesl formed transversely therein, means in each cavity and adinstable through the openings oi' said cavities for varying the volume ofl each cavity, operating means movable between two predetermined positions for rotating said measuring cylinder between a loading position and an unloading position, said casing including an inspection opening located at s. point outside of the range oi' movement of said measuring cavities in moving bel tween loading and unloading positions. a releas-l able clutch element interposed between said'.

measuring cylinder and said operating means toi permit uncouplingA oi' said cylinder from said operating means. and means for manually rotating said cylinder to a position where the openf ings of said measuring cavities come into resistry with saidl inspection opening.

. WILLIAM BTRAUSB. 

